Tag Archives: Jeff Wenzel

RESULTS OF THE USAWA SECOND ONE TON CHALLENGE AND RECORD DAY

The results of the Second One Ton Challenge are now available. Let’s just say ‘challenge met’ as 15 lifters from five gyms across the nation took part and lifted nearly 11 tons of iron during the competition on the weekend of 10 – 11 October 2026. The lifting took place in person in Columbia, MO and remotely elsewhere. The meet was meant to produce big numbers and this year did not disappoint.

On the Women’s side, Clark’s Gym welcomed a new lifter, Brittany Kreisler, who works with Jeff Wenzel by day with the State of Missouri. Brittany set four records in her first meet and lifted over 1200 pounds to take the title on the Women’s side. She was quite impressive for a rookie with the USAWA, but she is no stranger to competitive weightlifting. Janet Thompson set records in all five events, hoisting more than 850 lb and finishing about 47 Lynch and Age points behind Brittany. Jessica Hopps from Frank’s Barbell Club finished third but was the second lifter on the Women’s side to throw up over 1000 lb in raw poundage and set four records of her own. Lisa Gore finished fourth needing only 23 lb to hit the 1000 pound mark, but she did set five records as well. Combined with a very impressive record day, the meet leaves her just four records short of being the first female lifter to post 400 records. Not to be outdone, RJ Jackson lifted more than 700 lb in spite of not having the equipment to do the Kennedy Lift. All the competitors in the Women’s Division did extremely well, but last year’s Champion, Allison Lupo, did not compete due to having to share her husband’s germs.

On the Men’s side, the competition was fierce as Jeff Wenzel added nearly 300 lb to last year’s total which was enough to hold off team mate Toby Ortega by just under nine Lynch and Age points. In spite of lifting more than 1.2 tons, Jeff only set two new records since he’s competing against himself generally for those. But, his record day lifts took him over the 400 lift mark all-time, only the 6th male to do so. Toby Ortega made his debut in this event and pushed up more than one ton himself. At a body weight of about 72 kg, this was mighty impressive as he set records in all five lifts. Jeff and Toby made some eyes pop out with a 755 lb and 655 lb Anderson Squat and Kennedy Lift, respectively. Riley Wenzel and Philip Marlin battled for third and fourth. Riley edged Phillip by lifting more than 1900 lbs, which was the same as last year in both poundage moved and final position. Philip was the most impressive on the day lifting more than 1.3 tons!! In spite of a 4th place finish, Philip was over the 700 lb mark on both the Anderson Squat and the Kennedy Lift. The battle for fifth and sixth was fought between Tony Lupo and Wade Marchand. Tony edged Wade this time but only by 34 Lynch and Age points. Wade pushed up nearly 1400 lb and set five records while Tony set four age and weight records. Dan Jones was only eight Lynch and Age points behind his team mate, and set three new records including a lift of 606 lbs in the Anderson Squat. Nils Larson and Sanjiv Gupta were close after Lynch and Age points were counted and both had a great day with four new records put into the books. Jerome Licini also competed, but with no referee, he was not able to put a few records in the books. But, with more than a half ton in weight lifted, it was another strong performance for him and like RJ Jackson probably lifted much more as their own loaders!

All in all, it was a great competition but we can’t finish this without a tip of the cap to Frank Ciavattone. While he did not compete, he did the Record Day portion and became only the third lifter in USAWA history to pass 500 records all-time. He joins fellow USAWA legends, Denny Habecker and Al Myers as members of elite 500 record club. Congratulations!

2nd One Ton Challenge Results

2026 USAWA Award Winners: Athlete of the Year (Men) and Newcomer of the Year (Women)

Let’s begin featuring the 2026 USAWA Award Winners right where we did last year. Last year began with the athlete of the year and newcomer of the year, and we called it “All in the Family”! Well in 2026, this show was renewed for a second season! The 2026 Male Athlete of the Year is Jeff Wenzel for the second straight year. Jeff is a member of Clark’s Gym in Columbia, MO, joining the team after spotting in the Bench Press Decathlon a few years ago. And why not a second year as Jeff competes in just about every meet and finishes in the top five including several 1st place finishes. Not only does he compete in meets across the USAWA, but he continues to try about every lift in the book from Abdominal Raise to the Zeigler Clean. In a few short years as a member of the USAWA he now ranks 7th all-time in the number of individual records with 370, which is good enough 2nd all-time from Clark’s Gym. He still owns top lifts in a few events, including the Piper Squat and the Foot Press. This year he was certified as a level-two USAWA referee as well. Jeff is a fierce but gracious competitor. He inspires fellow gym members to up their game. By day he works for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

The 2026 Female Newcomer of the Year is Dylan Wenzel. At only seven years old, she is the youngest of the Wenzel lifting family. And when the Wenzel’s are in, the gym is alive with sound of iron (sorry – I do recycle old jokes). Dylan became interested in lifting watching her brothers take on the record book. What makes her case so compelling is that for such a young person, with the coaching of her dad, she picks up the lifting techniques quite readily. Although she can be shy in front of large crowds, she’ll do the particular lift and has managed to get 54 records already. And she is so light, I can practice my math modelling skills to get her Lynch score. She has a bright future in lifting, finishing 1st at the Stars of Tomorrow meet in May at Clark’s Gym. She is a favorite among the Clark’s gym members having earned the name “Cookie Monster” because of her love of Nilla Wafers and Oreos. She is pictured below with her USAWA Award, which she really appreciated, alongside dad after competing at Nationals on 27 July 2026 in Our Lady of Lourdes Gym.

LIFTER OF THE MONTH, APRIL 2025 – JEFF WENZEL

April was an exciting month with meets being held in Colorado and Missouri. Jeff Wenzel earned lifter of the month with some incredible lifts in the Club Championships and winning the Bench Press Heptathlon. His 250-pound Reg Park Bench Press was good for an all-ages record at 110kg.

Jeff has been enthusiastically competing and setting records since 2023 in the 45-year-old age category and since the 50th Birthday Bash in the 50-year-old age category. Jeff is a member of the Century Club and was honored as 2024 Newcomer of the Year.

All-Round weightlifting is a family sport in the Wenzel household. Spencer (17), Logan (10) and Riley (20) quickly in Jeff’s footsteps. They tend to favor the obscure and currently all four athletes hold records in the Anderson Squat, Jackson Press, Roman Chair Sit-up, Pinch Grip Deadlift and Bench Dip.

Congratulations Jeff!